Sometimes following the easy way isn’t what is needed
Since coming onto the scene in 1982 (yes, 1982!), Madonna Louise Ciccone (a.k.a. Madonna) has achieved accomplishments unrivaled by any other artists in the music industry — ever. She has sold over 200 million albums, conducted the highest grossing concert tour by a female artist, become the top earning female singer in the world (with a net worth in the hundreds of millions), currently holds the record for top 10 hits, and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And these are only some her industry-leading achievements.
All of this success hasn’t been achieved by taking the easy way either. Madonna has stirred controversy after controversy with her use of sexuality, religion and fashion. She has reinvented herself time and again to remain relevant to the current global music audience. As a result, for over 25 years Madonna has captured the attention, adoration and wallets of fans across the globe.
There is a great deal that leaders can learn from Madonna and her incredible ways, including:
- How to deal with innovation as fashions and customer demands shift.
- Effective techniques to reinvent a persona and profile.
- How to bring a management team along with you, even as you face controversy.
- How to capitalize on success for the benefit of larger causes.
Innovation
A few names always rise to the top when you think about innovation in the pop-music world: The Beatles, Elvis, Madonna, and Michael Jackson. All of them broke new ground at the outset of their careers, then found industry pundits and others declaring them to be “yesterday’s news.” Yet, like the phoenix rising from the ashes, every one bucked the odds. Through clever use of innovation and reinvention, they stormed back to the forefront of the industry, leaving naysayers scratching their heads.
With Madonna, her use of controversy to keep herself in the news is legendary. Beyond this, she has used her visibility to launch societal trends which continue today. It’s her innovative style of music, dance, fashion — and even her steadfast defiance — that has kept her from succumbing to the notion that she is a mere “flash in the pan.” These same qualities keep her relevant to audiences of all ages, even as she reaches her 50th birthday.
Avoiding management failures
Madonna has also steered clear of management failures. She has consistently avoided the self-absorption and partnered with great managers and producers throughout her career. Madonna and her management team have remained startlingly proficient at managing the Madonna “brand” and maximizing the outcome of nearly all endeavors, be they music, acting, writing or cause-related.
It is the consistency of her team, led by Madonna herself, that has allowed such dependable success in nearly all that she does — and through countless controversies. Others, especially those that have selected non-professional management (usually family or friends) have suffered failures of all sorts: financial (Billy Joel), career (Britney or Lindsey Lohan), or life and death (Chris Farley or Heath Ledger). For over a quarter of a century, brand Madonna has rolled on, amassing billions of dollars in value.
Leveraging fame in support of causes
As a result of her success, Madonna has been able to leverage her platform to bring attention to causes close to her heart, like the plight of children in Africa. She even adopted an African child herself in late 2006 (though not without the customary Madonna controversy). She donates millions of dollars for schools for children and has performed at aid-benefit concerts for numerous social causes. Her ability to influence others — through style, fashion, politics or social causes — is a testament to her command of what it is to be a leader.
toLeaders of all kinds — women or men, in business or in other aspects of life — should learn from Madonna’s masterful use of innovation to manage inevitable career crises; her constant reinvention to remain hip, cool and relevant to changing marketplace; her consistency of brand management; and her ability to leverage her prestige. It would be difficult to think of anyone who has done a better job than Madonna, whether in business, entertainment or promoting personal causes. She stands head and shoulders above others in her mastery of such important leadership qualities.
As someone who strives every day to learn something new, I am awed by Madonna and all that she has accomplished. She is a beacon for women and an exemplar for leaders in any facet of life. Let’s hope the lessons we can get from observing her will serve us as they have served her. Rock on Madonna!
Technorati Tags: innovation, personal re-invention, consistent management, brand management, surviving career crises, handling controversy
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